Air-propelled barge



Sept. ,6, 1927.

H. SUNDSTEDT AIR PROPELLED BARGE Filed April 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVEN TOR.

Se t. 6 192 p H. SUNDSTEDT AIR PROPELLED BARGE Filed April 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll IN VEN TOR. f i WW Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES nuao suuns'rnnr, or miw YORK, N. Y.

AIR-PBOPELLED BABGE.

Application filed April 28, 1926. Serial No. 105,297.

This invention relates to' air propelled bar es such as are commonly used on inland sha low waterwa s and has for an object to propel barges this kind by an air pro-' peller instead of a water propeller, and a further object is to mount the propeller on a swivel stand whereby its direction relative to the barge can be changed or varied with the object of moving the barge sidewaysas well asforwards or backwards.- Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 is a .plan view of a barge embodying m invention, Fig$2 is aside elevation of the arge shown the rear end'of the barge showing the 0 erating mechanism for the air propeller, Fig 4 is a sectional elevation of the pedestal go supporting the propeller and Fig. 5 shows another arrangement of pedestal supporting the motor and pro eller.

Canal barges o the type shown usually have a shallow draft and are moved along by a water propeller at a low speed. This propeller in shallow water stirs up the mud which gradually leads to an erosion of the banks and. a settlement which reduces the depth of the canal bed and requires dredgso ing at intervals to restore the normal depth of the water. By using an air propeller on the barge, this condition is substantially avoided. ,By eliminating the water propeller there is no fouling. with ob ects in the channel and the barge can move in shallow water without danger of loosing its propeller.

Barges of the present ty are usually docked by the aid of' a tug oat which can 0 move them in any direction. The air pro peller in the present invention is mounted on a swivel andits direction of thrust relative to the barge is controlled from the pilot house so that it may be set to move 5 the barge forward, or turned through 180 to move the barge backwards, or it maybe set in any position to move the barge sldeways in eit e'r direction, or to obtam a re-' sultant of a forward and sideways motion.

Thus, b proper mani ulation of the propeller the barge can e placed as desired within the narrow limits of the docking space. This invention hasa particular ap- P ication to bar as of shallow draft and as comparatively high speed but may be apig. 1, Fig.3 is a longitudinal section of plied to barges in general and is not restricted in any sense to this class.

Referring to the drawings, 11 is the hull, 12 is the deck, 13 is the pilot. house, 14 is the bow which is constructed in transverse corrugations as indicated at 15. The rudder 16 is, rovided for'steering the bar when it is ing towed. The alr rope er 17 is carriedv by the rotating ead 18 mounted on the pedestal 19 through whichv a suitable driving mechanism, hereinafter described operates the propeller and turns the head 18 in the desired direction.

In Fig. 3, the motor 21 is placed in the engine room 22 built into the hulland by shaft 23, bevel gears 24,shaft 25, bevel gears 34, Fig. 4, and shaft 3.5, drives the air propeller 17. The-controlling wheel 26 in the pilot house 13, by bevel gears 27, shaft 28, bevel gears 29, shaft 30 and a bevel gear connection rotates shaft 31 carrying the spur gear 39 at its upper end which meshes with the internal gear 40, Fig. 4, the head 36. This head is supported by the pedestal 19 through the sleeve 33 and rotates on the ball bearings 37 and isheld in place by the clamping ring or collar 38 and by the shaft 25. The "pedestal is secured to the deck by the bottom flange 32.

It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4, tlgat the head 36 is capable of rotating on its support about shaft 25 as a centre and may be rotated while the propeller is in motion.

The head 36 is rotated in response to the controlling wheel 26 and thus the direction of the thrust from the propeller on the barge is controlled from the pilot house whereby the barge is effectively steered.

In the alternative form shown in Fig. 5

the motor and propeller are mounted to O6 swivel about the pedestal so that a direct drive is obtained between the motor and the propeller" shaft. The rotation of .the

-motorand pro eller is effected through a .Worm gear. T e pedestal 51 is secured to 1 the deck and is conical sha' d. A sleeve 52 is placed over-the pedesta as shown and rests u on the ball bearings 53-54. The lower ange of-this sleeveis. formed with worm teeth at 55 which are,,en aged by the worm 56 supported by the brac et 58. The worm 56 is rotated through the shaft 57 I thereby carrying the sleeve '52 around the Pedestal.

A bracket 60 formed integral with sleeve 52 supports the motor 21 andthe head 59 carries the shaft of, the propeller 17 Means may .be provided for remotely controlling the motor mounted on this turret .which are notshown in the drawing in the estal on the deck, ahead rotatably mounted on said pedestal and carrying a propeller, a driving shaft centered in said edestal and operatively connected with said propeller and a second shaft in said pedestal operatively connected with said head for rotating said head and means below the deck for driving said driving shaft and means for operating said second shaft.

2. In an air propelled barge, the combination, a barge with a hollow pedestal on the deck, a head rotatably mounted on said pedestal and carrying a propeller, a collar securing said head to said pedestal, adriv ing shaft centered in said pedestal and operatively connected with said propeller and a second shaft in said pedestal operatively lclongected with said head for rotating said 3. In an air propelled barge, the'combination, a barge with a hollow pedestal on the deck, a head rotatably mounted on said pedestal and carrying a propeller, an internal gear in said head, a driving shaft cen. tered in said pedestal and operatively connected with said propeller and a secondshaft tion, a barge with a hollow pedestal on the,

deck, a sleeve at the end of said pedestaha head rotating on said sleeve and secured to said edestal, a propeller shaft mounted in said ead, a drive shaft centered in said pedestal and o eratively connected with said propeller sha and a second shaft in said pedestal, for rotating said head, said drive shaft and said, second shaft having hearings in said sleeve.

6. In an air propelled barge, the combination, a barge with a hollow edestal on the deck, a sleeve at the end of said pedestal, a head rotating on said sleeve, an exterior ring on said pedestal securing said head in place, a propeller shaft mounted in said ead, and a drive shaft centered in said pedestal and operaively connected with said propeller shaft.

7. In an air propelled barge, the combination, a barge with a hollow edestal on the deck, a sleeve at the end 0 said pedestal, a head substantially the same diameter as said pedestal mounted on said sleeve, a drive shaft centered in said pedestal and passing through said sleeve and the wall of said head, a horizontal shaft carrying a propeller mounted in said head and said drive shaft and said orizontal shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HUGO SUNDSTEDT.

cars connecting 

